Campaigns at the Trades

CAMPAIGNS

The Trades Club is a socialist members cooperative club and music venue with a long history of combining great music with enthusiastic support of political causes close to our hearts.

The conservative government continue to impose harsh austerity measures that are making life ever harder for millions of people across the country. There is also undoubtedly worse to come with the lies that people have been fed before and after the EU referendum and the uncertainty that we now face in the aftermath. We must stand full square against the increase in racist attacks, support the rights of all who live in this country and resist fascism wherever it raises its ugly head.

If you are as angry and concerned about the future as we are then help us do something about it. The Trades Club offers its resources and assistance in putting on political events & benefits as well as publicising them – we need you, our members, to come forward with suggestions and ideas to ensure the Trades Club plays its part in resisting austerity and xenophobia at the same time as presenting a positive socialist vision for the future.

We Shall Overcome

We Shall Overcome is a movement of musicians, artists and community organisers who are angry about the human costs of austerity policies and who want to do something practical to help those affected. Find out more at https://weshallovercomeweekend.com/

The Trades Club has supported We Shall Overcome since it’s beginnings in 2015 raising thousands of pounds for Todmorden Food Drop in, BIASAN (Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Support and Advice Network) & other grassroots solidarity groups.

Todmorden Food Drop In

Justice for the People of Palestine

The Trades Club are long-term supporters of the Palestinian People in their resistance to occupation and search for a just settlement. We hold regular fundraisers for organisations such as those detailed below:

Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP) – Working for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. http://www.map-uk.org/

Ta’ayush – Israelis & Palestinians striving together to end the Israeli occupation and to achieve full civil equality through daily non-violent direct-action http://www.taayush.org/

The Trades Club supports the call of the Palestinian people for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against the state of Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights. http://www.palestinecampaign.org/bds/

Frack Free World!

The Trades Club has put on a number of events to support, inform & raise funds for local & (inter)national campaigns against fracking. From direct action training to benefit events, film showings & beyond. You can find out more about joining the resistance to fracking here:https://reclaimthepower.org.uk/fracking

International Brigades Memorial Trust

The International Brigade Memorial Trust keeps alive the memory and spirit of the men and women from Britain, Ireland and elsewhere who volunteered to defend democracy and fight fascism in Spain from 1936 to 1939. http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/

In October 2016 the Trades Club marked the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War with a special exhibition and commemorative night to pay tribute to the men and women who volunteered to join the International Brigade and other militia fighting Franco’s fascists.

Say No to TTIP

Join War on Want and millions of others across Europe to stop the back room deal that could hold our public services hostage to big business and destroy our democracy for ever. The potential impact of TTIP is uncertain after the EU referendum and potential for a veto from the current French president but there should be no let-up in resistance to it until we know that it is dead in the water. http://www.waronwant.org/say-no-ttip

The Trades Club was delighted to host War on Want Executive Director, John Hilary, in 2015 when he gave a presentation on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

TTIP is a comprehensive free trade and investment treaty currently being negotiated by the United States and European Union which, if agreed, would give foreign corporations the power to sue elected governments over decisions that could harm future profits – such as plain packaging on cigarettes, or policies to leave fossil fuels in the ground. TTIP would also weaken regulations covering food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection, worker’s rights and financial conduct, as well as creating new markets in public services, leading to greater privatisation.

John Hilary told the packed audience that it was “outrageous” that such a wide-ranging treaty was being negotiated in secret and there is no access to the draft text, even for MP’s